The development of the Riverina Intermodal Freight & Logistics (RiFL) Hub will help facilitate the effective and efficient movement of freight to and from markets in Sydney, Melbourne and in the future, Brisbane.
The project involves the construction of new major rail and road infrastructure and a freight terminal on 95 hectares of land at Bomen Business Park. The project also includes the future development of an agricultural bulk goods facility (grain terminal) and will be a key driver to the growth of the region.
WSP was engaged in 2016 to provide master planning of the site, intermodal operational advice, concept design and preliminary design, as well as liaison with a variety of stakeholders including Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC), a potential terminal operator, ARTC and various utilities asset owners. We have also been engaged to provide construction phase services during the upcoming construction phase.
The RiFL Hub will consist of rail infrastructure, installation of turnouts off the Main Southern Railway Line, as well as an intermodal terminal for the transfer of containers between road and rail development and adjoining industrial land development.
Upon completion, the RiFL Hub development will:
- Boost the regional centre of Wagga Wagga and improve access to capital cities
- Increase opportunity for freight and bulk traffic through the major Ports
- Increase the regions' competitive position in global markets by providing an efficient and cost effective intermodal solution
- Provide additional accessibility to the Port of Brisbane
- Provide an additional Inland Rail connection to South Australia and Western Australia via Parkes.
- Regional growth particularly by the RIFL Hub and associated infrastructure (roads and rail) being an enabler and attraction to the development of approximately 300Ha of heavy and light industrial land paving the way for the expansion of the Bomen Business Park.
- Jobs creation in the infrastructure build, operation of the terminals and development of the adjoining industrial land.
- Attraction of new business and technology to the region.
- Leveraging off existing investments of Government and the private sector in road, rail and port infrastructure.
Stakeholder Engagement
Working closely with the stakeholders, WSP helped coordinate obtaining State Government funding for the project. We delivered the project on time and within budget. The delivery of the project so far with the open and transparent communication with the WWCC officers and Councillors has allowed the project to proceed after many years of delays.